Hermetically sealed automatic closure for collapsible tubes and the like



Jan. 23, 1940. w v. R005 2,188,191

HERMETICALLY SEALED AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES AND THE LIKEFiled Feb. 21, 1939 INVENTOR enolel V. R005 WWQ ms A ORNEY Patented Jan.23, 1940 4 UNITED STATES namrrcmr sump suns FOB COLLAPS nn:

PATENT OFFICE suromrrc cLo- IBLE TUBES AND THE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to improved discharge devices forcollapsible tubes and the like.

The invention is particularly related to discharge devices forcollapsible tubes and the like, such as those employed for dispensingtooth paste, shaving cream, paints, facial creams and like cosmetics,greases, and the like. Such tubes are formed usually of relatively softmetal, and comprise .a discharge end of general frusto-conical contour,terminating in a nipple of general cylindrical configuration. Thecontents of such tubes, pursuant to conventional practice, is chargedthrough the end of the tube which is opposlte to its discharge end, suchopposite end being cylindrical in original status, and after .thecharging operation is closed by means of a clip of metal or the like.

- The conventional collapsible tube is provided with a cap for itsdischarge nipple, which latter is usually threaded, the cap beingprovided with mating threading.

It has been long recognized that such collapsible tube provided withsuch conventional closure cap is not wholly satisfactory, primarily byreason of the failure of the user to replace the cap after each use,resulting in causing the contents of the tube to become hardened byoxidation, contaminated by being brought into contact with foreignsubstances, and the like.

Pursuant to the instant invention, I provide a discharge deviceconstructed to be associated with the discharge nipple of the tube,preferably by insertion and effecting self-locking engagement within thedischarge nipple; my discharge device is constructed to be mechanicallysealed against the atmosphere and moisture and other exteriorconditions, and in its initial status com-- prises the discharge deviceper se and a thereto connected terminal part adapted to'be bent, severedor otherwise removable from the discharge device per se. With suchpreferred form of my invention, the usual exterior threading of thenipple of the collapsible tube may be dispensed with.

By my invention, the collapsible tube, after being charged with itscontents and closed at its charging end, pursuant to conventionalpractice, is adapted to be packed, shipped and otherwise handled to thestage of delivery to the user. The user, upon bending, severing orotherwise removing the terminal part of my discharge device in itsinitial status, operates the collapsible tube for dispensing purposespursuant to conventional practice, i. e., by applying pressure upon itscollapsible body portion, .thereby discharging the desired amount of thecontents thereof through my discharge device. Upon release of pressureupon the collapsible tube, the discharge of its contents ceases andsimultaneously therewith my discharge device automatically closes andseals the contents of the tube-from the exterior air and other exteriorconditions.

The severed terminal part of my discharge de vice may be retained toserve as a closure device, suitable means being provided forinterlocking the closing device relative to the body of my dischargedevice.

Pursuant to my invention, my discharge device may be unitary with thecollapsible tube per se,

= as by forming the discharge device of the same material and as a stepin the forming of the tube.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following detail description and the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a conventionalcollapsible tube equipped with a preferred form of my invention. Thisview illustrates the discharge device in initial status, suitable fororiginal shipment. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, butillustrates the terminal part of the discharge device removed,preparatory for dispensing the contents of the collapsible tube, theremoved terminal part being temporarily attached to the clip end of thecollapsible tube. Fig. 3 is a detail central vertical elevation taken online 3-3 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating a stage of thedischarge of a portion of the contents of the tube, under whichcircumstance the mouth portion of my discharge device is automaticallyexpanded, yielding in the illustrated instance, a substantially flatdischarge.

Fig. 5' is a'detail side elevation, corresponding to Fig. 2, on asomewhat enlarged scale, but showing the severedterminal portion placedupon the discharge device per se, serving as a removable closuretherefor. Fig. 6 is a detail front face elevation of a preferred form ofmy invention, in its initial status, corresponding to Fig. 1, and on anenlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a central sectional elevation on line l-lofFig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail central sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention, illustrating additional features.

Fig. 9 is a perspective elevational view of a tube of suitable material,adapted to be subjected to suitable treatment for forming my dischargedevice in initial status.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates preferred embodiments of myinvention, l 0 represents any suitable type of collapsible tube, theillustrated type being currently in common use, and shown as embodying afrusto-conical end Illa, terminating in a nipple Nib; its opposite endlOc, initially open and of cylindrical contour, affords the chargingtherethrough of the contents of the tube, and shown closed by means of aclip Ii. Pursuant to the instant invention, the nipple lllb may beplain, as shown, i. e. without its usual threading.

My discharge device I! in its initial status, see Figs. 1, 6 and '7,comprises a lower body portion 12a having an outer contour correspondingto the inner contour of the nipple lllb of the collapsible tube; in theillustrated instance, the inner contour of the nipple is cylindrical andaccordingly the contour of the lower body portion [2a of my dischargedevice is also cylindrical. Suitable means are provided for locking thelower body portion Ila within the nipple lilb and to precludedislodgement under the condition of pressure exerted by the user whendispensing the contents of the tube and possibly due to force exertedinteriorly within my discharge device during the stage of transit of thecontents of the tube being dispensed through my discharge device. Suchlodgement means, pursuant to commercial practice of my invention, iseffectively provided for by forming an outwardly flaring flange l3 atthe lower terminal portion of the lower body portion i2a of my dischargedevice, and a bead l4 disposed intermediate the lower body portion iZaand the upper body portion In; of my discharge device. Such flange l3,as shown, may be serrated.

The .upper body portion l2b may be of any desired configuration. At thetransverse location IS, the material of the discharge device isflattened over definite areas, dependent in extent upon the material perse to impart to the material the characteristic of resiliency to returnto selfsealing status for any given medium dispensed, upon release ofthe dispensing pressure. As shown, the walls of the lower portion i2b ofthe discharge means, by reason of the cylindrical contour of thedischarge nipple of the container, is of general cylindrical contour,the walls of the upper portion of the discharge means at substantiallyflattened, oppositely disposed, wall portions converging towards oneanother terminating in the oppositely disposed flattened areas l5, l5,whereat the flattened wall portions engage one another in face to facecontact under selfsealing pressure.

At the transverse location, IS, the material of the discharge device isscored or otherwise weakened, whereby upon bending, cutting or othersevering, the outermost portion ll of the material of the dischargedevice in its initial status, may be removed.

A collapsible tube equipped with my discharge device in its initialstatus, accordingly, is wholly sealed, and proof against leakage in theevent that the tube is subjected to pressure and therefore in optimumstatus for packing, shipping and handling. When the user desires todispense the contents of the tube, the outermost portion i1 is severed,whereupon the tube is usable pursuant to conventional usage.

Desirably, the severed portion I! may be utilized as a closure,applicable when placing the co llipsible tube in a traveling bag or thelike, and for such purpose, the portion I1 is provided with suitablemeans for detachable securement about the discharge opening of the tubeafforded by the cooperating flattened areas l5, ii. A simple arrangementof such detachable securement means, is had by bending the portion i'lupon itself to form a .clip and locally depressed as indicated'at i'la,to provide protuberances, a wall of the upper body portion l2b beingcorrelatively depressed, see ill), to provide one or more matingrecesses.

Such arrangement also affords placement for safe-keeping of the closureH on or about the clip ll of the tube, as indicated in Fig. 2.

My discharge device may be formed of any suitable material such asplastics of the nature of cellulose acetate, acetylor nitro-celluloseand/or other cellulose compounds, ductile metal or metallic alloys,preferably non-toxic ani noncorroding or coated to be so rendered, andhaving the required resiliency and compressive strength and otherphysical characteristics as appears hereinabove. My discharge device mayfashioned of such material initially in the form of a tube I8, see Fig.8, and preferably when the nipple lllb is cylindrical; the formations ofthe flange l3, head 14, flattened areas l5, scoring area l6 and bentover portion H are attained by suitable forming operation.

In lieu of fitting the discharge device inwardly.

relative to the discharge nipple to the collapsible tube, the same maybe appropriately fitted externally about the discharge nipple.

If preferred, the collapsible tube per se, say, of ductile metal, may beinitially sealed by a suitable sealing medium such as cellulose acetate,acetyl-cellulose, nitro-cellulose or other soluble" cotton, as bydipping the discharge nipple of the tube in a bath of such sealingmedium and permitting the adhered sealing medium to solidify, in whichstatus the tube may be charged with the desired contents. My dischargemeans may be applied to the charged collapsible tube, by puncturingand/or removing such sealing medium, and then aflixing my dischargedevice in proper relation to the discharge nipple. as above pointed out.

Advantageously, the collapsible tube per se and my discharge device maybe formed unitarily. as by extrusion,- employing cold-worked ductilemetal, or by molding, employing cellulose acetate or other suitablecellulose compound. Fig. 8 illustrates such unitary embodiment of mydischarge device with the collapsible tube per se, the latter beingindicated ill, its nipple 20, to which is unitarily formed the dischargedevice per se indicated at I! corresponding in general construction tothe upper body portion i2b of the embodiments hereinabove set forth. Theopposingly disposed flattened areas are indicated at 22. Desirably, theprocedure of formation of the discharge device illustrated in Fig. 8follows that as indicated generally in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, that is to say,providing for a line of scoring or equivalent indicated at 23, see Fig.8, affording separation thereat of the terminal portion 24. Suchterminal portion 24 may take the form of the terminal portion I'I,hereinabove set forth, or may be of plain flattened configuration as isindicated in Fig. 8; in the latter instance, sealing of the dischargedevice may be had by dipping into a suitable bath of sealing medium ascellulose acetate or the like, the resulting deposit of which beingindicated at 25, see Fig. 8. Such sealing medium is formed at and aboutthe outer faces of the body portion 2| of the discharge device, and maybe retained thereon during the stages of charging the desired contentsinto the collapsible 1' tube, during shipment and other handling to thestage of delivery to the user. Upon the user desiring to dispense thecontents of the tube, the terminal portion 24 is broken off and removedat the line of scoring 23, the removal of which also effects the removalof the sealing medium 25, shown in this instance as having a cone-shape.Such cone-shape deposit of the sealing medium may be later employed as aclosure for the discharge device, during such stages as when placing thecollapsible tube in a traveling bag or the like. To facilitateattachment of such cone-shape cap relative to the discharge device, itis advantageous to provide the exterior face of the body portion 2| ofthe discharge device with opposingly disposed protuberances 2m, whichgive rise to corresponding cup-like formations 25a or equivalent.

From the above it appears that my invention, in its preferredembodiments, provides for a hermetically sealed automatic closingdischarge device for collapsible tubes. The discharge device, per se,embodies an expansible body portion possessing the characteristic ofresiliency and having a terminal portion comprising opposingly relatedflattened areas or equivalent, arranged to effect an openingtherethrough upon generation of appropriate pressure on the contents ofthe tube, thus affording the discharge of a desired quantity of thecontents, and upon release of pressure on the contents, the resiliencyof the stated body portion and of the walls of its stated.

discharge opening, the walls of the discharge opening are automaticallyreturned to hermetically sealing status.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific formsthereof it will beunderstood that many changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. For use with a container having a discharge nipple, discharge meanscomprising a body portion terminating in opposingly related resilientflattened areas, the face portions of said resilient flattened areasnormally engaging one'another in face to face contact under pressure,normally sealing the contents of the tube, and under pressure on thecontents of the tube to be displaced relative to one another to providea path of flow for the discharge therethrough of the contents of thetube.

2. For use with a container having a discharge nipple, discharge meanscomprising a body portion of resilient material having cylindrical wallsconverging toward one another terminating in opposingly relatedflattened areas, the face portions of said opposingly related areasnormally engaging one another in face to face contact under pressure,normally sealing the contents of the tube, and under pressure on thecontents of the tube to be displaced relative to one another to providea path of flow for the discharge therethrough of the contents of thetube.

3. A discharge device for a collapsible tube having a discharge nipple,said discharge device comprising a body portion terminating inopposingly related resilient flattened areas serving as Walls of adischarge opening, the material of said body portion extending beyondthe walls of said discharge opening and arranged to be severed adjacentthe margin of said discharge opening.

4. A discharge device for a collapsible tube having a discharge nipple,said discharge device comprising a body portion terminating inopposingly related resilient flattened areas serving as walls of adischarge opening, the material of said body portion extending beyondthe walls of said discharge opening and arranged to be severed adjacentthe margin of said discharge opening, said severable portion of thematerial being bent upon itself to serve when so severed as a closurefor said discharge opening.

WENDEL V. R008.

